Foundation for Liver Research

Company Awards $1.8M in Grants to Eight Organizations in Brazil, India, Thailand and the United Kingdom PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today unveiled a $1.8 million initiative to advance health equity by addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) in four countries with underserved patient needs, including Brazil, India, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. The new health equity grants are an extension of the company’s broader long-term commitment to invest $150M in health equity by 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Inequities in healthcare systems present a unique global challenge, with some studies suggesting that SDoH factors account for up to 50% of health outcomes within the United States.1 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines SDoH as non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, such as: income and social status, education, physical environment, social support networks, genetics, health services and gender. As echoed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3 (Good Health & Well-being), SDoH are crucial to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.2 "We know that a healthier world is attainable, but access remains a significant challenge for many patients and social determinants of health present barriers to people attaining their full potential for health and well-being,” said Cari Gallman, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb. “These new health equity grants reinforce Bristol Myers Squibb's commitment to ensuring all patients have access to high-quality health care, regardless of where they live.” These healthcare-strengthening grants will support eight organizations that are addressing the root causes of inequities in an effort to deliver long-lasting impacts at a community level. The grantees were selected in countries with underserved communities living with cancer and blood disorders. Based on the outcomes of this pilot program, the Company will consider expansion to other geographies and communities to remove systemic barriers to care, and enable better access and health outcomes. The grantees include: The Instituto Lado a Lado pela Vida in Brazil, which serves the rural population and patients with cancer who live in the countryside and small, economically disadvantaged towns of the North area of Minas Gerais. This project focuses on prevention, improvement of diagnosis and patient referral for treatment. The Instituto Oncoguia in Brazil, which is focusing on training the health team at Sistema Único de Saúde Oncology Centers with the aim of ensuring that all non-medical professionals who care for people with cancer are informed and empowered with the latest information in the world of cancer. The Gabriel Project Mumbai in India, which is creating innovative and comprehensive solutions to treat sickle cell anemia and oral cancer among underserved tribal villages. The Liver Foundation, West Bengal in India, which is training rural healthcare providers to be advocates, referral points and drop-out counselors at the grassroot level and align them with public health linkages for prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in the rural Indian communities. The Foundation for Education and Development in Thailand, which is working to improve prevention and primary care in Burmese migrant communities living close to the southern border with Myanmar. It aims to do this by increasing linkages of migrants to Thai healthcare facilities and services to increase healthcare access for Myanmar migrants. The Patients Association in the United Kingdom, which aims to bridge the gap between social care and healthcare, ultimately reducing health disparities and improving access to quality care for underserved populations. Blood Cancer UK in the United Kingdom, which is leading a project aimed at reducing inequality in clinical trial recruitment for people from ethnic minority communities with blood cancer. Blood Cancer UK is also partnering with local communities to co-design a model, with accompanying tools, campaigns or services, to improve awareness of and enrollment in clinical trials at a local level. The Less Survivable Cancer Taskforce in the United Kingdom through Pancreatic Cancer UK, which is working to ensure governments and health services across the UK prioritize and commit to concrete actions for less survivable cancers, with the goal of doubling survival rates over the next decade. Bristol Myers Squibb’s Approach to Health Equity At Bristol Myers Squibb, health equity is the opportunity for all people and communities across the globe to attain their full potential for health and well-being. Our work extends beyond traditional healthcare boundaries, emphasizing the importance of community voices and cross-sector partnerships in co-creating solutions that drive meaningful and equitable health outcomes worldwide. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, please visit BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. philanthropy-news ______________________________ 1 Hood CM, Gennuso KP, Swain GR, et al. County Health Rankings: Relationships Between Determinant Factors and Health Outcomes. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. February 2016; 50(2):129-135. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2015.08.024 2 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs – Sustainable Development. The 17 Goals. Available at . Accessed March 2024. View source version on businesswire.com: Contacts media@bms.com Source: Bristol Myers Squibb Smart Multimedia Gallery Document Bristol Myers Squibb’s Global Health Equity Grants Focused on Social Determinants of Health Logo View this news release online at:

SUZHOU, China and ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and age-related diseases, today announced that it will release results from the Phase I first-in-human study of APG-1387, the company's investigational inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) antagonist, in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), in an oral presentation at the 73th American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Annual Meeting (AASLD 2022). Prof. Jinlin Hou, Director of the Center for Liver Diseases and the Institute of Hepatology at the Southern Medical University Affiliated Nanfang Hospital, is the principal investigator of this study. This presentation will mark the first data readout reporting favorable safety and preliminary efficacy of an IAP antagonist for the treatment of CHB, signifying that the targeted induction of apoptosis and immune modulation in hepatitis B virus-infected cells by IAP antagonists may provide a revolutionary approach for functionally curing hepatitis B. The AASLD Annual Meeting is one of the most anticipated scientific gatherings in the field of hepatology. This year's congress will take place both online and in-person in Washington, DC, the United States, during November 4th to 8th, 2022. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to present on APG-1387, our inhouse designed and developed novel IAP antagonist, to top hepatology experts and researchers from around the world, because being selected by the event signifies the recognition of Ascentage Pharma's R&D capabilities and global innovation strategy," said Dr. Yifan Zhai, Chief Medical Officer of Ascentage Pharma. "At the meeting, we will announce detailed results from a Phase I study of APG-1387 in Chinese patients with CHB, and discuss the compound's therapeutic potential for the treatment of this condition. IAP inhibitors could potentially bring a new class of drugs to the treatment of CHB, and this is why are particularly excited to share these results at the meeting." Title: First-in-Human Study of APG-1387, Targeting Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins, For the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Abstract #: 32 Session: Parallel 2: Novel Therapeutic Approaches Aimed at Functional Cure of Hepatitis B and D Date & Time: 9:00-10:30 AM, November 6, 2022, Eastern Time Venue: Room 146, Walter E. Washington Convention Center About Ascentage Pharma Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) is a globally focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing novel therapies for cancers, chronic hepatitis B, and age-related diseases. On October 28, 2019, Ascentage Pharma was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 6855.HK. Ascentage Pharma focuses on developing therapeutics that inhibit protein-protein interactions to restore apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The company has built a pipeline of nine clinical drug candidates, including novel, highly potent Bcl-2, and dual Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors, as well as candidates aimed at IAP and MDM2-p53 pathways, and next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Ascentage Pharma is also the only company in the world with active clinical programs targeting all three known classes of key apoptosis regulators. The company is conducting more than 50 Phase I/II clinical trials in the US, Australia, Europe, and China. Olverembatinib, the company's core drug candidate developed for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), was granted Priority Review status and a Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and is already approved for the indication. In addition, olverembatinib was also granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and a Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the US FDA, and an Orphan Designation by the EU. To date, Ascentage Pharma has obtained a total of 15 ODDs, 2 FTDs, and 2 Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) designations from the FDA and 1 ODD from the EU for four of the company's investigational drug candidates. Ascentage Pharma has been designated for multiple Major National R&D Projects, including 5 National Major New Drug Discovery and Manufacturing projects, 1 New Drug Incubator status, 4 Innovative Drug Programs, and 1 Major Project for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases. Leveraging its robust R&D capabilities, Ascentage Pharma has built a portfolio of global intellectual property rights and entered into global partnerships with numerous renowned biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes such as UNITY Biotechnology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Merck, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer. The company has built a talented team with global experience in discovering, developing, launching, and commercializing innovative drugs and is setting up world-class commercial manufacturing and Sales & Marketing teams. One pivotal aim of Ascentage Pharma is to continuously strengthen its R&D capabilities and accelerate its clinical development programs, in order to fulfil its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs in China and around the world for the benefit of more patients.

EDISON, N.J., Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEPA), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)-driven therapeutic drug development for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”), hepatocellular carcinoma (“HCC”), and other chronic liver diseases, today announced that its research collaborators from London’s Institute of Hepatology will present new findings on the Company’s cyclophilin inhibitor, rencofilstat, in an awarded oral presentation at the 2022 joint meeting of the International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA) and European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ESBRA), taking place September 17-20, 2022 in Cracow, Poland. Alcohol-associated liver disease (“ALD”) is a global health burden with a lack of effective therapies. Previous studies have demonstrated that cyclophilins participate in various stages of liver disease, including steatosis, fibrosis, inflammation, cell injury and HCC. The study to be presented evaluated the effects of rencofilstat in human tissue-derived experimental models of ALD, and on fibrosis in primary hepatic stellate cell (“HSC”) cultures. In addition to reducing alpha-smooth muscle actin and improving collagen fiber alignment in HSCs, rencofilstat profoundly reduced the expression and secretion of pro-fibrogenic markers and restored a balanced cytokine profile in patient-matched precision cut liver slices exposed to hepatotoxic insults. “These data confirm the role of cyclophilins in liver fibrosis – including HSC activation, collagen deposition and orientation – while also revealing, for the first time, rencofilstat’s therapeutic potential to reduce ALD-induced fibrosis,” said Dr. Robert Foster, PharmD, PhD, Hepion’s CEO. Oral Presentation Details Abstract title:Cyclophilin inhibitor Rencofilstat as a potential therapy for Alcohol-associated Liver Disease Authors:Elena Palma1,2, Una Rastovic1,2, Sara Campinoti1,2, Nicola Harris1,2, Omolola Ajayi1,2, Bruna Almeida1,2, Tsin Shue Koay1,2, Sandra Phillips1,2, Karoline Lackner3, Daren Ure4, Melissa Preziosi5, Rosa Miquel5, Yoh Zen5, Andreas Prachalias5, Krishna Menon5, Nigel Heaton5, Luca Urbani1,2, Shilpa Chokshi1,2 Presenter:Una Rastovic Session:34 – Free Oral Communications 5 Date:Tuesday, September 20, 2022 Time:11.45 am CET 1The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research; 2King’s College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine; 3Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz; 4Hepion Pharmaceuticals; 5Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College London